It was the epic “I quit” seen and heard around the world. The year was 2014 when Charlo Greene, a reporter with KTVA in Alaska, took to the airwaves to tell viewers she was ditching her day job to promote pot legalization with a well-timed “f**k it.” But now Greene is now facing 54 years in prison. Here’s the video, but if you haven’t figured it out yet, it contains an F-bomb. [1]
Greene is facing 14 offenses, including “misconduct involving a controlled substance,” for running the Alaska Cannabis Club. The state legalized the manufacture, sale, and possession of marijuana in 2015, but Greene reportedly failed to get the proper certifications for the club to run retail operations.
Ten of the offenses stem from either the supply or possession of cannabis over 1 ounce on several different dates when detectives visited the club. Each offense carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. [2]
The other 4 offenses resulted from the supply or possession of smaller amounts, which carry the threat of 1 year in prison, each.
The club allowed people to purchase memberships which allowed individuals to make “donations” in exchange for pot. Greene was charged after authorities carried out several raids on her club. [1]
Said Greene:
“It’s almost dizzying when you try to make sense of it. It could literally cost me the rest of my adult life.”
Court records show Greene wasn’t involved in the undercover transactions, but law enforcement said “f**k it” and charged her anyway because the business was registered in her name. The Alaska Cannabis Club and 2 others are facing the penalties because they started operations before regulations were in place.
Cynthia Franklin, director of the state’s alcohol and marijuana control office, explained:
“These people got ahead and said, ‘We’re not going to wait.'”
Greene quit her job on September 22, 2014 as she was ending a report on the Alaska Cannabis Club by telling viewers she was the actual owner of the business.
Before walking off-camera, to the shock of viewers and the in-studio news anchor, she said the following words into the camera:
“Now, everything you’ve heard is why I, the actual owner of the Alaska Cannabis Club, will be dedicating all of my energy toward fighting for freedom and fairness, which begins with legalizing marijuana here in Alaska. And as for this job, well—not that I have a choice—but [f–k] it, I quit.” [2]
The dramatic departure made Greene an immediate viral video star. (Who hasn’t wanted to quit a job like that?)
From that point on, Greene positioned herself as a marijuana advocate, helping to make cannabis accessible in Alaska after it became the 3rd state in the U.S. to legalize recreational marijuana. [3]
Greene has described her case as a “modern-day lynching,” raising questions about the ongoing – and failed – war on drugs, and the impact her case could have on law-enforcement implications in other states where legalization is being considered.
Jennifer Egbe, Greene’s sister, who helped out at the club, said:
“The fact that they were watching us for so long, I kind of felt violated. I was really just heartbroken. I never assumed it would go this far.”
Charlo Greene – legal name Charlene Egbe – has pleaded not guilty. A trial is expected to be held in the following months.
Sources:
[1] Fox News
[2] The Independent
[3] The Root
SFGate